Catch a Fire

Catch a Fire
The original 1973 'Zippo lighter' hinged album sleeve
Studio album by Bob Marley and The Wailers
Released	13 April 1973
Recorded	May–October 1972; Dynamic Sound Studios, Harry J. Studios and Randy's Studios, Kingston, Jamaica; mixed at Island Studios, (Notting Hill) London
Genre	Reggae
Length	37:51
Label	Tuff Gong, Island
Producer	Bob Marley, Chris Blackwell
Bob Marley and The Wailers chronology
The Best of the Wailers (1971) Catch a Fire (1973) Burnin' (1973)
Alternative cover
The sleeve art from the 1974 issue of the album

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
MusicHound
PopMatters	favourable
Robert Christgau	A
Rolling Stone
Virgin

Catch a Fire is a 1973 album by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was their first album released by Island Records. After touring and recording in the United Kingdom with Johnny Nash, Nash's departure to the United States left the band without enough money to return home; they approached producer Chris Blackwell, who agreed to advance the Wailers money for an album and paid their fares back to Jamaica, where they recorded Catch a Fire. The album features nine songs, two of which were written by Peter Tosh and the rest by Bob Marley. After Marley's return to London to present the tapes to Blackwell, the producer reworked the tracks with contributions by Muscle Shoals session musician Wayne Perkins, who played guitar on two overdubbed tracks.

The album's supporting concert tour throughout England and the United States helped establish the band as international stars. Catch a Fire peaked at number 171 on the Billboard 200 and number 51 on the Billboard Black Albums charts. Critical acclaim has included the album being listed at number 126 on Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all time, second only toLegend among five Bob Marley albums on the list. It is regarded as one of the top reggae albums of all time.

Bob Marley moved to Sweden to work with Johnny Nash composing songs for the soundtrack to the film Want So Much To Believe. From November to December 1971 Marley and the Wailers toured Great Britain with Nash. Columbia Records (CBS) released a single by the Wailers (the Nash-produced "Reggae on Broadway"). After the tour, Marley and the band didn't have enough money to return to Jamaica, but were unable to earn money due to work permit issues. The band asked promoter Brent Clarke to help them, and he contacted Chris Blackwell from Island Records, who had released singles by the Wailers in Great Britain. Blackwell promised Clarke an advance of GB£8000 for their next album, so Clarke lent the Wailers some money to return to Jamaica.